SpaceElevatorClimber

Title: Space Elevator Climber
[Cover Img]	About: Author: Brad Edwards Created: July 6, 2008 Modified: July 6, 2008	Tags: This article is in progress Discipline(s): Engineering This article is about Climber

 

The Climber

Ascending the ribbon efficiently and reliably is crucial. The climber utilizes current technology throughout and is under development through the Spaceward Foundation Space Elevator Games.

	Value	details
Mass	30 tons	Baseline mass has been 20 tons (13 payload and 7 climber) but larger systems are being considered. Initial climber mass breakdown File:Climber mass.ods
Height	20 meters	Only roughly determined at this time. Height will be determined by stability and tracking studies.
Width	20 meters	Determined by photovoltaic array size
Payload	60 tons	Baseline mass has been 20 tons (13 payload and 7 climber) but larger systems are being considered
Maximum Velocity	200 kph	This limit was set by the state of current technology with no maturation. This rate is likely too slow for many human transport applications.
Power usage	10 MW	Determined by maximum velocity expected and capabilities of lasers adn receivers. This power delivery is larger than listed as baseline in the past to account for the larger climbers being considered.
Motor	DC electric	Various designs are possible. Brushed, rare-Earth motors regularly run at 90% efficiency. Issues come in the variable speed and power required, operation from atmospheric pressure through vacuum and thermal issues.

The working climber design is File:Climber model.dxf. Notes on the design are located [climberdesignnotes.odt here]

Overview

In the grand Space Elevator scheme of things, climbers can be easily identified - they are the things that move. The climber moves up (and possibly down) the stationary Space Elevator ribbon, carrying payload with it.

A picture of the climber is shown below:

File:Not here yet

Climbers have 3 main parts:

• A beam convertion system, which captures incoming light and converts it into electricity
• A traction and drive system, which uses the ribbon to propel the climber
• A hull, which encoumpases all of the non-climber related functionality, such as attitude control, communications, and life support. **NEAD A TERM FOR THIS**

Since only the first two systems are unique to the Space Elevator, they usually get most of the attention, since we think we know how to make a space-worthy hull. This is a common misconception, since so very much of the way spacecraft are built, down to even the basic choice of construction material, is goverened by the fact that they are designed to sit on top of rockets.

Status

Most recent work on climbers has been done in the framework of the Space Elevator games.

These climbers demonstrate the basic principles of a Space Elevator Climber, since they contain all the basic functionality, but they do not really have a direct lineage to real spaceworthy climbers.

Traction Mechanism

Full article: Climber Traction Mechanism

The traction mechanism has to be developed along with the Ribbon Macro Structure and it is likely that the considerations that go into the development of the latter will override those that define the former. In short, the traction mechanism will be built around the ribbon, and not the other way around.

It is possible at this point, however, to start considering how to handle very fine ribbon at high speeds in a way that is safe. The traction system is the #1 candidate to break a Space Elevator.

See Climber Traction Mechanism Workpage for more details.

Power Conversion

Full article: Climber Power Conversion System

The power receiving unit has to be deloped along with the Power Beaming Source. The receiving unit has to be both lightweight and efficient. A 20 ton climber will be expading 10 MWatt when traveling at even 50 m/s, and any inefficiencies create heat that has to be ratiated away, which introduces mass penalties. Current space power systems are in the 100 kWatt range, two orders of magnitude below what we plan to have.

At this point, we should be looking at the range of PV alternaives out there, since it is a rapidly evovling field.

In propulsion terms, the overall climber must a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1! This a tough requirement.

Hull

See Climber Hull Workpage for more information

Current Climbers at the Space Elevator Games http://www.spaceward.org

	Value	Units
Mass	25	kg
Height	2	meter
Width	2	meter
Payload	10	kg
Maximum Velocity	18	kph
Power usage	9	kW

Include images and videos from the SE Games Include design write-ups

Alternative Designs

Alternative designs and concepts for a climber can be found at ArchiveSchematics and ArchiveDesigns

Major Development Issues Related to this Component

1. Climber Tracking on the Ribbon
2. Full Design of the Climber System

Additional Work Needed

The climber has the most engineering work that needs to be done and the most opportunity for individuals and groups to get directly involved.

Item	Notes	Completed and Ongoing Efforts
Categorize the available photovoltaic cells for use with the power beaming system	Baseline climbers are designed to use photovoltaic cells to receive power from lasers at Earth. The specifics of these PV cells are critical to understanding the performace of the climbers. PV cells are being heavily researched and such the best are constantly changing. We need someone to compile the information on the best cells for power beaming - receiving light at a specific wavelength. They need to be light weight with high efficiency around 1 micron. Who is making them, mass, cost, efficiency spectrum,coatings to improve them at our wavelength, output,... Also, in case Ben Shelef's solar design works out we need as much information on the ultralight arrays as well.	Workspace #1 - open for use Workspace #2 - open for use Workspace #3 - open for use
Categorize the available motors	Recently I have been working on various small motors and finding that there are numerous possibilities for off the shelf motors that may work for the climber. In addition a custom motor or a modified commercial one promises to have even better performance. The motor is the major mass component on the climber - getting the right one is crutial. It must be in the megawatt range, high efficiency, torque at zero RPM, operate in a vacuum, and be geared to meet the climber needs. For a motor engineer, mechanical/electrical engineer or just a good hardware person this is an open area where you have a blank sheet for designing a motor and seeing how it compares to commercial systems.	Workspace #1 - open for use Workspace #2 - open for use Workspace #3 - open for use
PV array design	In the Space Elevator Games we have seen lightweight solar arrays literally get torn apart on the ribbon. We need to examine the best way to make an array that is lightweight but strong. Composite frame with tension members? A rigid sandwich panel? an organic type structure looking like a inverted tree? We need need innovation. Optimize for collection, efficiency, mass, use in unidirectional -0.1 to +1 gravity,...	Workspace #1 - open for use Workspace #2 - open for use Workspace #3 - open for use
Roller design	If you've ever seen newsprint flying through a printing press then you have seen what we need - rollers that handle thin material at high speed. It must track the ribbon and hold it securely without damaging it. The added challenge is that the system must be low mass, operate with what may be a low-friction ribbon, apply minimal variation in force across the ribbon, and the forces will be tons per roller drive, ... not a small system but precise. This one can be designed and built for testing. An initial set of offset canted rollers I (Edwards) designed and a colleague built took a ribbon, held it and tracked it even when it was aggressively pulled off to the side (a colleague wanted to prove it wouldn't work - he apologized for a week for doubting me)	Workspace #1 - open for use Workspace #2 - open for use Workspace #3 - open for use
Overall structure design	Innovation, artistry and a bit of engineering and you get to design the coolest climber ever. Many climber designs look functional - we are still at that stage - but now is the time to analyze where the forces and masses will need to be on a climber and build a structure to best suit it, minimize vibrations or roll with them, aid in tracking, keep the array aligned,... and do it for as little mass as possible - maybe a CNT gossamer structure?	Workspace #1 - open for use Workspace #2 - open for use Workspace #3 - open for use
Operations	Before we build it we will need to know how we will run it - how much mass is going up, how often do we launch, if a climber fails what do we do, what is the ascent speed profile, how much time do we have to load climbers, do we bring climbers back down when they are done, do we toss them when they reach their destination, do we scavenge climbers for parts, how many people do we need at the anchor for loading climbers or on the mainland scheduling, ... We need someone to start working out a detailed operational scenario	Workspace #1 - open for use Workspace #2 - open for use Workspace #3 - open for use

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